meerschaum stem repair possible?

[newtothis]

Hey all,
I don't have a picture handy, but I just bought a meerschaum pipe from a antique store for a few bucks, hoping I can repair.

If not, it will make a great shelf piece, but I'm hoping I can fix it.
Long story short, it is a twist/screw mouth piece, and it looks like someone just tried to pull it out and snapped off the very end of where the mouth piece connects.
It's a pretty clean break, with a couple lost chips. I'm hoping I can find a food safe epoxy, or cement of some type to put it back together.

It's on the stem, so it's no going to be in a hotspot.
Any ideas? Or is it destined to be a shelf piece?

 

[jitterbugdude]

Read this:https://rebornpipes.com/2016/03/23/replacing-a-threaded-mortisetenon-system-with-a-push-mortisetenon-system-in-a-meerschaum-pipe/
You can buy replacement tenons from several places. I think Royal Meerschaum sells them. I've even seen them on ebay.
Good luck.... go s..l..o..w..
Here ya go.. http://www.royalmeerschaumpipes.com/Regular-Stem-Push-Pull-Fittings-p/sft-3.htm

 

[mcitinner1]

You should probably send it to a professional. There are meerschaum collectors here who can steer you in that direction.

 

[anarchisthermit]

Floyd Norwood.

 

[weezell]

Rick @ Briarville...

 

[jitterbugdude]

If you feel confident (as in you are handy with tool/repairs/crafts etc) give it a try. It's not that hard or complicated. The trick is to go very slow. If you have to drill, use a hand-twist drill and do it by hand.

 

[newtothis]

Here is a picture of it.

 

[ashdigger]

Whoa, you must have a nice shelf in mind. That's a shank repair. Much trickier than a stem repair. Good luck.

 

[jpmcwjr]

Dang. Sorry for that one. Interested in how it can be repaired, but I have been lucky in one sense: my last four breaks have been tenon snaps. Gotta stop dropping things!
Good luck, and please post results.

 

[mcitinner1]

Even an epoxy would eventually fail unless it stays on display. :|

 

[jpmcwjr]

I am wondering if it can be re-drilled and grooved such that a new tenon can reach into the stummel for a decent hold....

 

[aldecaker]

I was thinking something similar, but with a push tenon instead of threads. I agree that a butt joint, no matter how strong the adhesive, doesn't have much chance of lasting.

 

[jitterbugdude]

If it was me I'd soak the stumble in water for an hour then use a knife to trim it smooth. I'd then get a longer stem and a push type tenon. Meer is just like a bar of soap after it has been soaked in water awhile.
Edit: spell check stumble should be stummel.

 

[weezell]

Glue and a band on it...

 

[blueeyedogre]

They should be able to sand it flush and cut new threads for the tenon.

 

[jpmcwjr]

I would want to preserve the broken bit; the shank is already pretty short.

 

[condorlover1]

Go to Ric at Briarville. You will need to have the two halves cemented together and and a silver band added. This is usually done by heating the band until it expands just enough to slide over but tightens up as it cools off. You will need a new bone tenon but after that all will be fine. Done it a hundred times to pipe stems and they always come back from Briarville looking like 'da bomb'.

 

[pitchfork]

Just FYI, you could buy a pipe similar to that one (unbroken) for less than it would cost to repair. The gang is right -- to repair it properly, you probably need a silver band, but epoxy/glue might work for a while, certainly well enough to put it on display.

 

[mcitinner1]

Folks...there's probably no one more qualified on the subject of Meers than Condorlover1. Just sayin'.

 

[condorlover1]

Thats very kind but my expertise extends to only one style and age bracket of meerschaum pipe!